Confirm or deny gift cards for payment at restaurants

[ChimneyJim]

Whether you want to hear it or not I’m sure past experience with declined charges has led to these limits. They are lowering their exposure.

 

[cwis]

Whether you want to hear it or not I’m sure past experience with declined charges has led to these limits. They are lowering their exposure.

Not only exposure, this also help guests. If you credit card allows you charges up to $750 but not beyond, you will certainly prefer Disney charging you every $500 than every $1,000.

 

[aml3679]

Just like last vacation, we bought gift cards at Target and used them for all of our meals.

 

[DisArmyWife215]

Not True in my opinion. Just because y ou paid less at a Value does not mean you have more to spend than I. That is biased

Actually since a deluxe costs more per night it's the same. Charging the card every 3 days or so. Nothing bias going on. This way it's a few charges and not being charged every single night, say if it hit over $300. Which in turn could cause transactions to be flagged as fraud and declined.

 

[DisArmyWife215]

If it were me, I would just bring the gift card with you and use that to pay. That is what we've done. You can also place tips on the gift card so keep that in mind too.

I don't like to think about what might trigger the resort to charge my credit card on file.

Dan

That's what I've done, use the GC at the restaurant, but I don't tip on the card. I don't like them having to run a separate transaction for the tip and keeping track. We always tip cash.

 

[DisneyFive]

That's what I've done, use the GC at the restaurant, but I don't tip on the card. I don't like them having to run a separate transaction for the tip and keeping track. We always tip cash.

The tip comes off the gift card immediately at the restaurant. They may need to do a separate transaction (not sure) but it's seemless to me and it's done right away. You give them the meal receipt with the tip amount filled in, along with the gift card. When the waiter returns the full amount (meal plus tip) has been removed from the gift card so there isn't any extra step. They provide you with the remaining balance on the gift card too.

It's not like on a credit card where you will see the meal charge pending on your account for a day or to before the final amount actually shows up with the tip included.

Dan

 

[Hopefully]

Actually since a deluxe costs more per night it's the same. Charging the card every 3 days or so. Nothing bias going on. This way it's a few charges and not being charged every single night, say if it hit over $300. Which in turn could cause transactions to be flagged as fraud and declined.

It isn’t the same. I have no idea what you are thinking or what your logic is. It has nothing to do with charging. The poster I quoted said that because she stayed Value and saved money, therefore she had more to spend than me. She cannot make that assumption it is simply not true.

 

[CamperMouse]

Can any gift cards be used to pay for meals? For example, Visa gift cards? I have several and would love to use them to pay for meals.

 

[DisneyFive]

Can any gift cards be used to pay for meals? For example, Visa gift cards? I have several and would love to use them to pay for meals.

I just used one a couple of weeks ago. ($200 Visa card)

Dan

 

[TinkerbellTris]

Thank you all for the great information. I will be paying in gift cards and I think at the resteraunt is my best option since I will have about 15 gift cards. The other question I have is, can I pay with gift cards at quick service dining places too?
I really appreciate everyone taking time to respond.

 

[supersnoop]

Can any gift cards be used to pay for meals? For example, Visa gift cards? I have several and would love to use them to pay for meals.

Restaurants put though an authorization for more than the bill since they expect you to write in a tip. That can wreak havoc on a prepaid visa. You might have enough to cover the meal, but not the amount they authorize it for, so it will get declined. Or the authorization may stay on the account for a couple days after the actual charge hits, and you won’t be able to spend the money that you know should be available. Expect trouble with prepaid visas at restaurants.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

Can any gift cards be used to pay for meals? For example, Visa gift cards? I have several and would love to use them to pay for meals.

I only use visa gift cards at the grocery store, where I spend more than the amount on the card. I would never try to use them at a restaurant, although it might work out if the visa gc was for $100 and the bill was $200. (And you provide a regular credit card for the remaining $100). I've never tried that though.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Thank you all for the great information. I will be paying in gift cards and I think at the resteraunt is my best option since I will have about 15 gift cards. The other question I have is, can I pay with gift cards at quick service dining places too?
I really appreciate everyone taking time to respond.

You can use gift cards at counter service restaurants, too. In fact, my favorite place to use the gift cards is at the kiosks in the parks because you don't have to do the extra step of putting in your PIN like you do with a Magic Band.

 

[patclairesmom]

The only issue, that I think, is that using several gift cards leaves you with several gift cards that have small balances. Then you have to remember which cards have what balance. I would definitely consolidate them on one card.

 

[bluejasmine]

Anyone know if homecoming , maria and enzo and via napoli take disney gift cards? Asking bc i have those 3 during my dolphin resort stay before i move to GF

 

[CamperMouse]

Restaurants put though an authorization for more than the bill since they expect you to write in a tip. That can wreak havoc on a prepaid visa. You might have enough to cover the meal, but not the amount they authorize it for, so it will get declined. Or the authorization may stay on the account for a couple days after the actual charge hits, and you won’t be able to spend the money that you know should be available. Expect trouble with prepaid visas at restaurants.

Thank you for this information. I may find a better use for the gift cards I received for retirement. I certainly want our trip to be stress free, especially after a Disney meal.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

The only issue, that I think, is that using several gift cards leaves you with several gift cards that have small balances. Then you have to remember which cards have what balance. I would definitely consolidate them on one card.

There are two ways to solve that problem.

You can combine the cards onto one or two.

You can also give more than one card for a bill. I've ask them to clear one card then take what is left of the bill off of the next card. They didn't have a problem doing that.

 

[masylimed]

What about using gift cards to pay for ADRs? We are not on a dining plan but have two ADRs. We do the Target Red Card thing and would prefer to use them to pay instead of our cc. Gotta save that 5%